All the Facts & Info You Need To Know About Australasian Crested Grebe
The reddish-orange plumage and cryptic call of this bird will get you started on your quest to learn more about this species.
Other facts about this species include its diet and nest. Learn about its habits and the Reddish-orange plumage to find out what this bird’s typical lifespan is.
Here, you’ll discover all the facts about this beautiful bird!
Podiceps Cristatus
The Podiceps cristatus (Great Crested Grebe) is a medium to large aquatic bird with a black double crest, brown wings, and white underparts.
The grebe’s black crown and stripes between the eyes and bill mark its male and female sex. The head is striped black and white. It has a black bill.
In Otago, New Zealand, Australasian crested grebes have recently been found freshly dead in Lake Wanaka.
They joined the white-faced heron, black-backed gull, and southern black-backed gull, which were donated to the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital.
The specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol for whole-mount and 96% ethanol for genetic analysis, and 4% buffered formalin for SEM imaging.
During courtship displays, the Australian crested grebe can be heard crooning and gurgling. Its long sinuous neck and red-orange ruff help identify the species.
When in court, it fluffs its head crest and neck ruffs. Its distinctive call can be heard throughout the year but is most often recognized as a croaking gurgle.
The Great Crested Grebe belongs to the Podicipedidae family and is known for its elaborate mating display.
The scientific name “Podiceps” comes from the Latin words podicis, “vent”, and pes, “foot”. The species name, cristatus, means “crested.”
The Great Crested Grebe typically lays two eggs in a nest that is suspended in water. They are capable of diving when they hatch. They also use the front of their beaks to reject fish.
The breeding population of the Great Crested Grebe is estimated at between thirty and forty-eight thousand pairs. Podiceps cristatus, facts & info about Australasian Crested Grebe.
Reddish-Orange Plumage
The Australasian Crested Grebe is an endangered bird found in Australia and New Zealand.
Its population is estimated to be around 1000 birds. This beautiful bird has reddish-orange plumage, which looks striking against the black background of its white legs and wings.
Its plumage is bright and vibrant and makes it easy to spot in the water. The Australasian Crested Grebe is one of the most colorful birds found in New Zealand.
The Great Crested Grebe is a relatively rare bird in Britain. It has a large, sheltered habitat on the east coast of Britain.
Although it spends its winters in the country, it often visits inland sites during the summer months.
This bird is also known to breed and summer in inland sites, but this is less common.
During hard weather influxes, more Australasian Crested Grebes may be displaced from their breeding grounds across the North Sea, thus creating a threat to this bird species.
When breeding, the Australasian Crested Grebe displays a highly impressive mating ritual. The birds use tufts of red feathers and their crest to intimidate intruders.
During this ritual, the grebes often threaten to dive underwater. The “combatant” is often chased away by the offspring and mate, and peace returns to the area.
The Australasian Crested Grebe is a medium-sized waterbird that is often mistaken for a shag or waterfowl.
They have long necks with a black double crest and distinctive white patches on their heads. Their erect black crests on the pinnacle are easily distinguishable.
The Australasian Crested Grebe retains its full breeding plumage throughout the entire year, despite its size.
Nest
If you’ve ever wondered how these aquatic birds construct their nests, you’ve come to the right place.
Listed below are all the facts and information you need to know about the grebe’s breeding habits and nesting practices.
First of all, grebes build their nests from floating platforms made of aquatic vegetation.
They lay three to seven eggs that are unmarked chalk white and heavily stained after incubation.
Despite the fact that the eggs hatch, grebe young spend the majority of their time swimming with their parents, and later clamber onto the adult’s foot.
Interestingly, the gray grebe’s young lack longitudinal stripes, but are often marked with black spots.
Australasian grebes have distinct looks. They are 25 centimeters long and weigh two hundred and twenty grams.
These grebes are rare natives of New Zealand, having been introduced to this country from Australia in the 1960s.
In 2005, they were found nesting in farm ponds and sheltered lakes. But despite its unassuming appearance, grebes are actually fairly difficult to spot.
The grebe’s population has decreased across most of New Zealand. Its numbers had declined as low as 200 in the 1980s, but recent records of breeding on the Canterbury coast suggest that this species may have reached a new high.
While the numbers of these birds in New Zealand are growing, their numbers in Australia are decreasing. The grebe requires large areas of vegetation for breeding.
It needs reeds, rushes, and exotic species like willows. Despite its elusiveness, the species is known to be protected in New Zealand.
The grebe’s population is in decline because of human disturbance. Development around grebe lakes has destroyed their breeding grounds.
Jet-skis and power boats have been known to disturb the grebe’s nests. Kayakers have noted the birds becoming anxious when approached by a jet-ski or boat.
These animals are also highly sensitive to noise, and they do not tolerate loud music and motor vehicles.
Diet
The diet of the Australasian Crested Grebe is varied and diverse.
This grebe typically eats fish, crayfish, crustaceans, newts, and snails. It is also known to eat insects, although its diet is highly variable.
Great crested grebes are aggressive toward other grebes. In Australia, males may try to mate with females, but they are usually unsuccessful in this endeavor.
The species has recently been introduced to New Zealand, where it largely mimics the native environment.
Previously, it was artificially introduced and has since been spotted in lakes and lagoons.
But, since the species is not native to New Zealand, its population has increased rapidly, and many of these birds are now common throughout the country.
However, keeping an Australasian Crested Grebe as a pet would be a complex task. The grebes are a highly endangered species, and the southern population of the species is in danger of extinction.
The number of the species in New Zealand has declined by about 35 percent since Westerskov recorded in 1892, and his estimate of two hundred and fifty birds is still unchanged today.
Because of the lack of systematic counts across the country, accurate figures are difficult to come by. Therefore, the species is listed as an endangered species in New Zealand.
The species’ home range is large, although this has not been documented in the literature. Its range extends from the islands of Madagascar to northern Europe, and even Asia.
The grebe’s young are underdeveloped, so their diet is often dominated by food from a single species.
As a result, many people ignore the protected status and continue to kill this bird.
The author of the book, Sydney Hope, and co-author Keith Pecor, says: “While we may have an incomplete knowledge of the size of the species’ range, it is still a major concern for the species.”
Range
The range of the Australasian Crested Grebe is a vast expanse, covering almost 80% of its native habitat.
Its distinctive coloring helps it to blend in with its environment. Its distinctive call is characteristic of all grebes, and its distinctive crest can be difficult to distinguish from the rest of the group.
Its range includes many of New Zealand’s largest lakes, including Wellington Harbour.
The Australasian Crested Grebe is native to Australia and New Zealand and is threatened in both countries.
Although its population has increased, the numbers of grebes in New Zealand remain low.
Counts are not systematic, so accurate figures are hard to come by. Fortunately, there are some good news for these birds: the range of this bird has recently increased thanks to efforts to control pests.
The Range of Australasian Crested GreBe is found throughout much of eastern and southern Asia, including Europe and North America. It winters in parts of southern Asia.
During the breeding season, it migrates between southern Australia and highland lakes.
Its black head-crest is called tiki tiki in Maori, and refers to the topknots worn by men of status.
A mature crested grebe can measure over 50 cm and eat fish and aquatic invertebrates. The breeding season of the Australasian Crested Grebe is long and cold.
They remain in breeding plumage despite harsh winters and are rarely seen in pairs. The species is largely dependent on lakes in the high country.
The range of Australasian Crested Grebe in New Zealand is a relatively small portion of their worldwide distribution. This species is endangered in New Zealand and elsewhere.
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